Written Answers Nos. 330-340
330. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13556/22]
View answerMy Department is currently compiling the information requested by the Deputy and will issue the response as soon as possible.
331. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons seeking international protection accommodated in direct provision in Galway city and county, by centre and length of stay; the number residing in direct provision centres in Galway city and county since which it is three months, six months, one year, two years, three years, four years and five years plus that permission to remain was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13652/22]
View answer332. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to enhance the community sponsorship scheme as a means of involving the public and local communities to help deal with the anticipated numbers of Ukrainian nationals seeking international protection in the coming weeks; the way that persons who are willing to assist under the scheme or in other ways can register their offers of support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13659/22]
View answerAs you may know, Deputy, Community Sponsorship has been developed by the Irish government in collaboration with non-governmental partners such as the Irish Red Cross, Irish Refugee Council, Nasc, Amnesty International and Doras Luimni.
The purpose of the programme is to enable communities to welcome refugees to Ireland and to ensure that communities are supported as they enable refugees to find sanctuary here and integrate into Irish life.
During the arrival of Afghan refugees in 2021 a less formalised version of this programme was adapted to support groups wishing to welcome Afghan arrivals in an emergency situation where time did not allow a full training programme to take place.
I can confirm that similar innovative approaches will be taken to assist refugees arriving from Ukraine and the communities who wish to welcome them.
333. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is a plan to compile an accessibility audit of playgrounds currently operated by local authorities in terms of accessibility for all users; and if there is a fund to make those playgrounds that fail such an audit more accessible. [13675/22]
View answerThe management and auditing of public play facilities comes under the remit of each Local Authority.
Since 2013 my Department provides Local Authorities with the opportunity to apply for funding to support play and recreation facilities for children and young people. The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation is run in conjunction with each of the 31 Local Authorities, via the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network (LAPRN). This approach is taken to allow each Local Authority to assess and prioritise needs in their area.
The scheme caters for the development of new play and recreation facilities and the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities. One of the key criteria of the Scheme is that the play facilities funded are accessible to all children.
334. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the proposed solidarity platform for European Union member states to exchange details regarding the availability of reception places for Ukrainian refugees. [13714/22]
View answerThank you for your question, Deputy. The Government is currently reviewing the European Commission's proposals in relation to a proposed solidarity platform to respond to the Ukraine crisis.
335. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the response of his Department to the Ukrainian war crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13718/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to assure you that I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in the Ukraine. I am monitoring the situation closely and my Department is supporting Ukrainian nationals who come to Ireland seeking international protection.
My Department is ready to assist with any coordinated approach developed by the EU to supporting refugees from Ukraine. I am liaising with the Cabinet and my EU colleagues to ensure an effective humanitarian response. My Department is working closely with key stakeholders and with the European Commission, other EU Agencies, and Member States, in order to be prepared for a sudden increase in individuals seeking international protection in the EU.
As the Deputy will be aware, it is not possible to estimate the number of Ukrainians likely to come to Ireland as the situation remains so volatile. However, I can confirm that accommodation is being made available by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of my Department and IPAS is planning to scale up its operations as the number of arrivals increase.
My officials are actively working to procure accommodation and supports for Ukrainian arrivals to Ireland through hotel accommodation in the first instance and various other accommodation solutions.
We appreciate that many people may wish to make offers of accommodation to support those persons seeking temporary protection in Ireland. The Government has worked with the Red Cross to put in place a national pledge. The website has been launched and is available online through https://registerofpledges.redcross.ie .
336. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13563/22]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science came into existence in 2020. Prior to the department's establishment the information was managed and published by the Department of Education and is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/department-of-education-and-skills-expenditure-on-consultancy/.
The data in respect of 2021 is being compiled during the current 1st quarter of 2022 as part of the Appropriation Account and will be published online as soon as it is available at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-higher-education-innovation-and-science/ .
337. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish medical students in Ukraine specifically the possibility of assistance to transfer home to Irish medical schools and support to subsidise medical student transfers and tuition fees for continuation of study in other EU and non-EU jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13581/22]
View answer338. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to a matter (details supplied) regarding Irish medical students in Ukraine specifically the facilitation of clinical rotations in public and private hospitals in Ireland for students due to enter senior clinical years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13582/22]
View answer339. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if consideration will be given to the points made in correspondence (details supplied) regarding Irish medical students in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13583/22]
View answer341. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to calls by Irish students studying medicine in Ukraine seeking to continue their education to become doctors; if assistance will be provided to them to transfer them home to study at medical schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13704/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 338, 339 and 341 together.
I aware of this group of Irish students, and a small number of others, who were studying Medicine and Dentistry in Ukraine whose studies have been disrupted as a result of the invasion. I am working closely with the higher education sector to see what can be done to support them and facilitate their studies.
My Department is in contact with a number of affected students with a view to establishing, in the first instance, factual information regarding their studies. I would urge any other Irish students who were in a similar position in Ukraine, but who have not yet been in contact, to make contact with my Department.
A key element of this process will be to understand the alignment of the students’ programme with the Irish system of medical and dentistry education and to understand any issues arising regarding accreditation by the professional bodies. In the first instance my Department is engaged with the Irish Universities Association, and we will also engage with other stakeholders. In line with the overall Government position, my Department and agencies will work together to support students affected by the invasion, in every way that we can.
340. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when a course (details supplied) will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13642/22]
View answerApprenticeships are training whilst in employment. The system operates on the basis of an apprentice being hired as an employee by an employer. The employer can be located anywhere in the country.
The particular course in this case, carpentry and joinery, is a craft apprenticeship programme. These courses take place over seven phases, with alternating on- and off-the-job training. The latter (phases 2, 4 and 6) takes place in training centres and IoTs/TUs throughout the country.
More specifically, off-the-job training in the west of Ireland for carpentry and joinery apprentices takes place through the following education providers:
- Mayo, Sligo, and Leitrim ETB, Galway and Roscommon ETB, and Longford and Westmeath ETB deliver phase 2 training
- The Technological University of the Shannon and Institute of Technology Sligo deliver training for phases 4 and 6 of the programme.
